Counter stiffener and method of making the same



M. L. DODGE Jan. 14, 1930.

COUNTER STIFFENER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1923 !IIIIIIII!!AJ Jan. 14, 1930. 7

L. DODGE COUNTER STIFFENER AND METHOD OF" MAKING THE SAME Filed June 16. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 PAT ENT OFFICE MILTON L. DODGE, OF NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS COUNTER STIFFENER AND METHOD OF MAKING- THE SAME Application filed June 16,

This invention relates to shoes having integral molded counter stiffeners therein and improvements in their method of manufacture.

As heretofore constructed such counte have been provided with inturned marginal flanges at their lower edges by which they may be fastened to the shoes. This attaching flange has been formed by passing a wiper laterally over one face of a die from which the edge portion of the stiffener protrudes. The molding and flan e-forming operations are done while the sti ener is in temper and in the subsequent drying operation the flange bends back somewhat so that its outer face is not in a plane but is somewhat convex downwardly. This action takes place bothlongitudinally and laterally of the stifl'ener and prevents the counter stifi'ener at the outer an edge of the flange from making close contact with the shoe sole. When such counters are used on turn shoes this defect detracts from the appearance of the finished shoe since the upper is spaced from the counter adjacent the sole and is permitted to draw up sharply from the edge of the sole at the sides and rear of the shoe. This also has the effect of rendering the heel seat of the shoe, particularly when cut to receive a wood heel, so sharply 3o convex as to cause considerable difliculty in eflecting a close joint between the upper margin of the heel and the upper since the permissible depth of the cavity in the upper face of the heel is limited by' the necessary thick- -d ness of its margin for proper strength. At its forward edge the counter is often raised from the sole forming a considerable space between the shank piece and the upper face of the shoe. This lowers the apparent height of the arch since'it is higher within the shoe than on the outside.

According to the present invention after the counter flange is formed in the usual manner and preferably while it is still somewhat in temper, the stiffener is laced in the press and the entire inner edge of the flange pressed inwardly beyond the plane of its outer edge and the outer edge is brought into substantially one plane lengthwise being preferably 50 slightly upwardly concave, its forward ends 1923. Serial No. 645,860.

being inclined downwardly. The counter is now removed from the press and dried thoroughly, the major portion atvleast of the flange being in unconstrained condition returning to substantially a common lane as it becomes hard. When the forwar ends are inclined downwardly, as in the preferred con struction, they are caused to be in substantially lateral alinement by the pressingaction by the time the counter is dry.

By this means the attaching flange is so positioned that the defects above enumerated due to the downward convexity of the flange are overcome, improving the appearance and the wearing qualities of the shoe.

F or a more complete understanding of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a counter stiffener and complemental dies for forming it according to the present invention after the edge flange has been initially formed. 7

Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal and cross sections, respectively, through a counter stiffener, formed according to this invention and showing a shank piece associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a turn shoe, the upper being broken away, the shoe having incorporated therein, a counter stiffener treated according to this invention.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross section through the counter stiffener and forming ies.

Figure 6 is a section on the plane of the line 66 of Figure 7 showing a defective relation of the counter stiifener and shank piece in the shoe which this invention is designed to obviate.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through the counter stiffener and shank piece shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detailed vertical section showing the counter stiffener and shank piece of Figures 6 and 7 incorporated in a shoe.

Fi re 9 is a View similar to Figure 8 but showing the counter stiffener and shank piece of Figures 2, 3, and 4.

Referring first to Figures 5, 6, and 7, 1 indicates a counter stiffener having an inturned marginal flange 2 at its lower edge for attaching it to the shoe sole. This is ordinarily formed as above described by passing a wiper across the margin of the stiffener as it projects from between suitable forms, the counter stiffener at this time being in temper. It is quite evident that with this construction it is impossible to inwardly dish the flange since the plane of motion of the wiper is perpendicular to the material of the stiffener and it is found that as the stiffener dries the flange returns somewhat toward its original position in alinement with the stiffener side portions, this being indicated in Figures 6 and 7 where the inner edge of the flange is shown as sprung downwardly. At 3 is shown the usual shank piece which rests upon the flange 2, the flange 2 being intended to be made fast to the upper face of the shoe sole. Not only does the inner edge of the flange of this construction separate from the lower face of the shank piece 3, but the same convexing action also takes place lengthwise of the counter so that the longitudinal center of the flange on each side tends to separate entirely from the shank piece, this being indicated in Figure 7. When a counter and shank piece so assembled are made fast to a shoe, a very considerable bulge to the heel seat portion thereof is presented which makes it difficult to seat the upper edge of the wood heel as shown at 5 in Figure 8 closely against the shoe upper at 6, the sole 7 here being shown as cut away at 8 about its margin in the usual manner to receive the wood heel. A space between the upper edge of the heel at the margin and the upper 6 is not desirable, but to avoid this it is necessary with the illustrated construction that the upper face of the heel be quite concave. The possible concavity, however, is limited by the necessity of providing sufficient stock about the mar-gin of the heel to prevent it from breaking in use.

Accordin to the present invention the counter sti ener 1 after the flange 2 has been formed thereon is placed between dies indicated conventionally in Figures 1 and 5 at 10 and 11, the dies having mating faces 12 and 13 so formed as to dish the flange 2 inwardly so that as the stiffener dries out it may not return below the plane of its outer edge where it merges with the sides of the stiffener. If desired of course, the unflanged blank may be so manipulated. as to form the flange inwardly dished directly instead of after the usual flange forming operation Without departing from the scope of this invention. The faces 12 and 13 are formed convex and concave, respectively, in order that this may wardly dished directly instead of after the flange shall not be convex on its lower face longitudinally of the shoe, the dies may be formed to make this flange slightly concave longitudinally as indicated in Figure 5 so thatas the counter dries the flange may be substantially straight and if desired slightly upwardly bowed or the forward end portion bent downwardly so as to closely fit the rear portion of the shank of the sole over which it may extend as in Figure 4.

A counter stiffener thus treated is shown in Figures 2 and 3 in which it is seen that the shank piece 3 may rest closely against the entire upper face of the flange both crosswise and lengthwise of the stiffener and that the flange may lie firmly against the upper face of the shoe sole, bringing the marginal portion of the stiffener adjacent the outer edge of the flange firmly into engagement with the sole throughout substantially its entire area. This considerably flattens the heel seat portion of the shoe, the major portion of the flange lying in a common plane, so that the wood heel may seat snugly against the upper as shown in Figure 9 and also causes the forward end of the stiffener to lie against the upper face of the sole, the forward ends of the flanges being in alinement laterally of the shoe though sloping downwardly forwardly, thus eliminating unnecessary space between the-lower face of the shank piece 3 and the upper face of the sole 7 In Figure 4 in dotted lines is shown the lengthwise contour of the lower face of the stiffener when this additional forming action is not utilized, the distance bet-ween the forward end of this dotted line and the upper face of the sole representing the amount by which the shank piece would be separated from the sole. While as shown the stiffener is incorporated in a turn shoe, it should be understood that it is also applicable to welts, McKays and other types.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes therein may be made without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method which comprises forming a counter stiffener with a sole attaching flange while said counter is in temper, and then pressing said flange into such a position that when dried in unconstrained condition its major portion extends substantially in a plane.

2. The method which comprises forming a counter stiffener with a marginal sole attaching flange while said stiffener is in temper, and pressing said flange upwardly beyond the plane of its outer margin sufliciently so that when the counter is dry the major portion of said flange lies substantially in a single plane.

3. The method of forming a counter stiflener which comprises molding it to form while in temper, and forming an inwardly extending marginal flange for attaching it to a shoehaving its inner edge positioned upwardly from its outer margin, and then permitting said stiffener to dry andthe major portion of said flange to assume a position substantially in a plane.

4. The step which comprises pressing the entire inner edge of the attaching flange portion of a tempered counter stiffener upwardly above the level of its outer edge to an extent sufiicient to prevent it from returning to below said level as the stiflener dries.

5. The step which comprises pressing the inner edgeof the attaching flange portion of a counter stiffener upwardly above the level of its outer edge so that when the pressure is relieved it will not spring downwardly below such level and its forward ends downwardly inclined.

6. The method which comprises forming a counter stifi'ener with a marginal sole attaching flange while said stiffener isin temper, and pressing said flange upwardly beyond the line of its outer margin sufficiently so that when the counter is dry said flange on the rear and opposite sides of said stiffener back from its forward portion lies in a single plane the forward portions of said flange being in substantial alinement from side to side and sloping downwardly from said plane.

7. A counter stiffener having a marginal sole-attaching flange the juncture of said flange with the side portions of said counter being upwardly convex.

8. A counter stiffener having a marginal sole-attaching flange the juncture of said flange with the side portions of said counter beidng inclined downwardly at their forward on s.

9. A counter stifi'ener having a marginal sole-attaching flange the juncture of said flange with a side portion of said counter being inclined downwardly at its forward end. I

10. A counter stiffener having a marginal v sole-attaching flange, the juncture of said flange with the side portions of said counter being inclined downwardly at its forward end, said flange being in substantial alinement transversely of the stiffener.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

MILTON L. DODGE.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,743,53 h January 14; 1930i MILTQN L. DCH'JGLv It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of It above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 60, strike out the syllable and words "wardly dished directly instead oi after" and insert instead be accomplished. In order to insure that; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thin correction there in that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of May, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner ofPatenta.

{JERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

January 14', 1930.

Patent No. 1,743,534.

MILTON L. DODGE.

the printed specification of the It is hereby certified that error appears in llows: Page 2, line 60, strike above numbered patent requiring correction as to out the syllable and words "wardly dis instead "be accomplished. In order to insure that"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction there in that the same may eoniorm to the record of the case in the Patent {)ftice. Signed and sealed this 9th day of May, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

lied directly instead of after and insert 

